Trestle for tables, scaffolding, &amp;c.



my invention. ration of the same in folded condition. Fig.`

BENJAMIN F. VANDEBSJICE, 0F DABBY, PENNSYLVANIA.

TBESTLE FOB. TABLES, -SCAFFOLDING, &o.

Speclcation o! Letters Patent.'

Patented Oct. 13, 1914.

Application med April l, 1918.- Scrial No. 758,138.

T o all whom vit-may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. VAN- nsnsucr., a citizen of the UnitedStates, re-

siding at Darby, in the county of Delaware, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Trestle for Tables, Scaffolding, Src., of which the following is a specification. My invention consists of a trestle which is formed of a central column, horizontallyextending arms radiating therefrom, and hinged thereto, and le adapted to eatend perpendicular to sai arms and hinged thereto, thus forming a strong structure for supporting a table, board, etc., with spreadapart members `which .will prevent the trestle from over-turning or shifting and presenting a flush top of said column and the upper arm-members, andprovldmg a4 flat surface for the support of said table, board, etcxfwhle the upper thrust of each leg is resistecLb the entire abutting end faces of the arms oth against the column and legs, the leg and arm-members being adapted to be folded on the central column forming 'a bundle that is compact and of vastlyreduced diameter.

The invention is satisfactorily illustrated in the accompanying drawing, but the unportant instrumentalities thereof may be varied, and so it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific arrangement and organization shown and described.

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a trestle in operative condition embodying Fig. 2 represents a side ele- 3 Vrepresents a side elevation of the upper portion of the trestle in operative condition. Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a column occupying the center of the trestle, the same being of angular form in cross section, producing numerous sides 2 inthe present case, four in number.

3 designates arms which are connected with the upper portion of the column 1 b the hinges 4, and 5 designates arms whic are connected with the lower portion of said column by the hin 6, said arms being adapted to radiate dm said column.

7 designates legs which are connected with the arms 3 by the hinges 8said legs being furthermore connected with the arms 5 by the hinges 9, it being noticed that the butts of the hinges 4' areconnected respectively with the column 1, and the undersides of the arms 3, that the upper vbutts of the hinges 5 lare connected respectively with the column 1 and with the undersides of the arms 5, thatthe butts of the hinges 8 are connected respectively with the outer sides of the legs 7 and the undersides of the arms 3, and that the butts of the hinges 9 are connected respectively w-ith the upperA sides of the arms 5, and the inner sides of the legs 7 consequently the trestle may be folded, as shown in 4F ig. 2. When the column is raised, the arms 3, the legs 7, and arm 5 assume downward positions, as shown in Fig. 2, placing the trestle in narrow form convenient for storage, transportation, etc.

When the trestle is required for service, the arms are drawn out to horizontal positions and the legs to vertical positions. The column 1 lowers and set-s flat on a floor or ground, as doalso the legs 7, thetrestle producin a wide or broad structure which 1s not lia le to overturn or fold, the weight of the arm and leg members causing a downward thrust of thesame flat on the floor or ground while the arms 5 abut laterally against the column and legs and the arms 3 abut laterally against the column and" upon the tops of the legs, the arms having their thrust bearing against the column, the en- -tire depth of the end faces of said arms thus bracing said legs and arms and stitl'ening the construction of the trestle. As the upper arms 3 are imposed upon the tops of the legs 7, as has been stated, they load said legs from above and so forcibly press the same upon the floor or ground, so as to cause the trestle to set firmly in position, and prevent it from shifting, these desirable conditions being increased when a table, board, etc., is placed on the trestle. Furthermore, as

the arms 3 are above the top of the legs 7 their upper sides are flush with the top of the column 1 and so the to of the trestle presents a Hat support for t e table, board, etc., im osed thereon.

The inges 4 have their upper butts secured to the under sides of the up er arms 3, and their lower butts secured to t e sides of the column. Said arms turn down and up on the pintles of the hinges and so are not pierced or bored through and thereby weakened by pivot pins passed vthrough the same, they being sustained on said intles and so firmly supported without lia ility of said pivot pins grinding out the wood of the arms 3 about said pivot pins as such pivot pins in the wood are dispensed with and so the arms are left intact. Then, the lower butts of the said hin es are secured to the column below the top ereof, so that the inner ends of the arms 3 when in horizontal osition abut solidly against the sides of sai column and theirupper sides are flush with the top of the column, as-shown in Fig.' 1, as has been stated. Again, in order to increase the surfaces of the upper arms 3 for the support of a table, board, etc., thereon, the outer end portions 10 of said arms 3 are extended beyond the outer sides of the legs 7, so as to overhang the same, see Fig. 1, while also providing increased room for the connection of the butts of the hinges 8 therewith, see Fig. 2, and removing said butts from being seated on the tops of said legs.

Attention is directed particularly to the fact that in the folded condition of the trestle the upper arms 3 are hinged tothe central column below the to thereof, so that in the operative condition t ereof,-the inner ends of said arms, in their horizontal positions, abut solidly against said colii, and the top of the latter is exposed or uncovered leaving said top and the upper sides of said arms 3 flush, whereby the weight imposed on the trestle is received solidly on the cenvtral column as well as on the to arms, said column being immovable, and sai u per arms being prevented from sagging on t eir inner ends thereby relieving said arms and the hinges connected therewith of downward strain and providing the trestle with an unbroken top surface, which will prevent wabbling or tilting of the table, board, etc., on said surface.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A trestle composed of a central vertical column, upper and lower outwardly extending arms and vertical legs, similar butt hinges throughout, connecting said arms with said legs and column respectively, the inner hinges of said arms having their butts secured respectively to the under sides of said arms and the sides of said column below the arms causing said arms, when in operative position, to have thrust bearing against the column throughout the entire depth of the arms; the hinges of the lower arms connecting the latter with said legs and column being staggered on said lower arms, both upper and lower arms when in operative position being adapted to abut directly against the sides of said central column so that upward thrust ofeach leg is resisted by the entire end faces of the arms abutting against both the column and legs.

BENJAMIN F. VANDERSLICE.

'itnesses:

C. D. MCVAY,

KATHBYN M. BROPHY. 

